Visa and Immigration Info

October 8, 2018

To study in the United States, you will need a visa. Visas are issued by the US embassy located in your home country. PNW issues the document needed for your visa application. We issue I-20s for degree seeking and ELP students or DS-2019s for the non-degree or short term student. The document is processed from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Each I-20 or DS-2019 has a unique SEVIS ID number.

Requirements for Issuance of I-20 (degree seeking and ELP students) for the F-1 visa

The following documents are required for us to issue you an I-20 so you can apply for the visa:

Official acceptance letter from the admissions office

Financial statements showing enough funds to cover expenses for one year. The amount that needs to be shown is from $27,200 to $34,512 depending on the program. The statement must be less than six months old.

Requirements for issuance of DS-2019 (non-degree and exchange students) for the J-1 visa

The following documents are required for us to issue you a DS-2019 so you can apply for the visa:

Official acceptance letter from the admissions office

Copy of English proficiency exam

Financial statements showing enough funds to cover expenses for the duration of your stay in the US. The amount depends on the program and/or other agreements. The statement must be less than six months old.

A copy of the picture page of your passport

SEVIS Fee

Once you get your I-20 or DS-2019, you will pay a fee to the US department of Homeland security using your unique SEVIS ID. The fee for the I-20 is $200. The fee for the DS-2019 is $180. Payment must be made prior to applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa at a US embassy/consulate. If you are not required to obtain a visa to enter the US, but you will be an F-1 or J-1 student, you still need to pay this fee. An example would be Canadian citizens.

Visa Appointment

First, make your visa appointment early. Once you receive your I-20, go to usembassy.gov, find the embassy in your country, and follow instructions to schedule your visa interview appointment. Apply as early as possible.

Before your appointment, pay the SEVIS fee. F-1 visa applicants entering the U.S. for the first time must complete the SEVIS form I-901 and pay the SEVIS fee before their visa appointment.

Follow the instructions on the embassy website for completing the visa application and paying the application fee.

Visa Application Questions

The interview will be conducted in English. Although, typically the interview is very short, be prepared to answer any of the following questions:

Why are you going to the US?

What will you specialize in for your degree?

What will be your major?

Where did you go to school now?

Who is your current employer? What do you do?

Why are you planning to continue your education?

Can you not continue your education in your home country?

How will this study program relate to your past work or studies?

How many colleges did you apply to?

How many schools did you get admitted to?

How many schools rejected you?

Have you been to the US before?

Do you know your professors at that university? What are their names?

What city is your school located in?

What are your test scores (GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS)?

What was your previous GPA?

How will you manage the cultural and educational differences in the US?

How good is your English?

Why do you want to pursue a degree in the US?

Why not study in Canada, Australia or the UK?

What do you know about US schools?

Can I see your high school/college diploma?

What is your monthly income?

What is your sponsor’s annual income?

How do you plan to fund the entire duration of your education?

How much does your school cost?

How will you meet these expenses?

Who is going to sponsor your education?

What is your sponsor’s occupation?

How else will you cover the rest of your costs?

Do you have a copy of your bank statements?

Did you get offered a scholarship at your school?

Can I see your tax returns?

Do you have relatives or friends currently in the US?

What are your plans post-graduation?

Do you have a job or career in mind after you graduate

Do you plan on returning back to your home country?

What are your plans after graduation?

Are you sure you won’t stay in the US?

Will you continue to work for your current employer after you graduate?

Visa Interview Tips

Here are ten tips to help you have a successful visa interview. Make sure you review and understand these tips before your visa interview.

TIES TO HOME COUNTRY

Under U.S. law, all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. “Ties” to your home country are the things that bind you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans, and career prospects in your home country. Each person’s situation is different, or course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter, which can guarantee visa issuance.

ENGLISH

Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview. If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.

SPEAK FOR YOURSELF

Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there in case there are questions, for example, about funding, they should wait in the waiting room.

KNOW THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT FITS YOUR CAREER PLANS

If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the United States relates to your future professional career when you return home.

BE CONCISE

Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute or two of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer’s questions short and to the point.

SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTATION

It should be clear at a glance to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you’re lucky.

NOT ALL COUNTRIES ARE EQUAL

Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.

EMPLOYMENT

Your main purpose of coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the United States. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the United States. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.

DEPENDENTS REMAINING AT HOME

If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family members will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support them, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.

MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.